Online Training
Reinventing Writing for Government in a New World
Writing for today’s readers
December 9 & 10, 2024
12:30 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Next intake: December 9 & 10, 2024 | 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Overview
For decades, the public sector was known for its formal, almost parental, tone. Government communication – from letters and forms to web content and emails – was often dense and jargon-heavy, with convoluted and ambiguous messaging. This was accepted as the norm.
But now we’re in a new world where a human-centered approach to written communication is expected. Your readers demand content that is clear, inclusive and highly targeted to their needs. So, your writing needs to evolve as a result. In this course, Reinventing Your Writing for Government in a New World, you’ll get all the advice you need to bring your writing up to best practice for today’s readers.
This one-day workshop delivered over two 3.5-hour sessions will explain the kind of writing today’s readers need and why they need it. It will give you tools you can use to write clear and concise documents that meet their needs for information.
Who Should Attend?
This is for public sector professionals who are looking to improve their writing skills or for a refresher. Managers, Leads and Specialists of:Learning Outcomes
Online Training
Reinventing Writing for Government in a New World
Session details
- A bespoke, interactive program designed specifically for Public Sector Executives to update your written communication for the modern public service
- Understand how to tailor your writing for different platforms and genres and assess your writing and identify what you need to do to improve
- Learn practical tips to overcome common challenges including writer’s block and proof reading
- Benchmark your writing skills with those of your peers from across the public sector
Level: Fundamentals
No previous experience necessary
Key Sessions
The session will run from 12.30pm to 4pm EST with a 30-minute break.
- The way we read now is not the same as it was for readers 40 years ago. Appropriate writing style has therefore changed. We’ll identify the criteria today’s writing must meet in the context of the Canadian workplace. The information readers need must be:
- Easy to find
- Easy to understand
- Accessible to everyone and written in inclusive language
- In this segment, we look at strategies you can apply to ensure your writing is clear and concise.
- Use the power of verbs
- Use parallel structure appropriately
- Manage sentence structure and length
- Choose the right words
- In this segment, we continue exploring strategies for clear and concise writing.
- Use pronouns effectively
- Reduce clutter
- In this segment, we look at strategies you can apply to help readers can find important information quickly.
- Use direct structure
- Give clear signposts to make information findable
- Chunk information effectively
In this segment, we review the process you can follow that will help you write documents that meet your readers’ needs.
- Plan
- Draft
- Edit
Meet Your Facilitator
Melanie Sexton
Ph.D., Writing workshop creator, instructor, and coach
Melanie Sexton Ph.D. is a seasoned and diversely experienced writing instructor. Her workshops are informed by her practical experience as a writer and editor in both government and the private sector as well as her thirty plus years of teaching experience. She creates and delivers workshops that emphasize the writing skills people need to thrive in today’s fast-paced workplace.
She is a passionate advocate for abolishing bureaucratic, misleading, and empty writing and believes that good writing makes a difference in the world.
What your peers had to say
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Join this training for professionals working within the Public Sector
Pay for individual courses
Extra Early Bird
Ends 27 Sep
$795 CAD
per person + tax $400 saving
Early Bird
Ends 25 Oct
$995 CAD
per person + tax $200 saving
Regular
Ends 6 Dec
$1195 CAD
per person + taxAdditional discounts are available for group registrations of 10 or more. For group or payment enquiries or custom training solutions, please contact [email protected]
Customised in-house options available for teams
Interested in any of our online trainings?
You can also choose to have them delivered in house. We will work closely with our inspiring session facilitators to tailor the content around the key development areas your team are prioritising, shape the learning outcomes around your core departmental challenges and make the most of your L&D and upskilling budget.
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